Variable friction sole for bowling and other shoes

ABSTRACT

The effective friction of a shoe is adjusted by changing the angle of a portion of the sole, relative to the shoe centerline. In one embodiment, the heel is effectively hinged and an adjustment device is spaced from the hinge axis, whereby the wearer can hold the shoe in one hand and manually adjust an actuator connected to a drive member that increases or decreases the angle of the hinge. The hinge axis can be perpendicular to the centerline, either in the front of the heel with the drive member embedded in the back of the heel, or in the back of the heel, with the drive member embedded in the front of the heel. Angulation can be effected in the foresole, about an axis perpendicular to the shoe centerline, or about an axis that is parallel to but offset from the centerline.

RELATED APPLICATION

This is the regular application claiming the filing date under 35 U.S.C.§119(e), of U.S. Provisional App. No. 60/735,795 filed Nov. 11, 2005.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention pertains to performance footwear, especiallywalking and athletic shoes, and most particularly, bowling shoes.

As has been recognized for a number of years, and as discussed in U.S.Pat. No. 6,907,682, experienced bowlers often desire that each of theleft and right shoes exhibit different characteristics, especially withrespect to sliding friction on the smooth, wooden or synthetic floorstypically present in the approach region of a bowling lane. Moreover,even for one or the other of the left or right shoe, such bowlertypically desires a different sliding characteristic on the foresoleportion versus the heel portion of that shoe sole. In yet a furthercustomization, the bowler may desire that the friction characteristicsof each foresole and heel be adjustable depending on, for example, thesurface characteristics of the bowling center in which a particularcompetition is staged, the day-to-day changes in temperature andhumidity in the bowling center, or an increase in confidence as thebowler warms up and reaches peak performance during the course of amatch.

One technique for permitting a bowler to adjust the frictioncharacteristics of one or both shoes, even during competition, isdisclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,542,198. The concept described thereinprovides for replaceable foresole and heel surface elements of differentconfigurations and performance characteristics. Although this techniquehas enjoyed some commercial success, it has the disadvantages ofrequiring a bowler to carry a kit of varying replacement pads and, evenwith such a variety of pads, each adjustment increment is a step change,without continuous adjustability.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect of the present invention, the effective frictionof the shoe is adjusted by changing the angle of a portion of the sole,relative to the shoe centerline. According to another aspect, thewearer's weight distribution on the sole can be similarly adjusted.

In one embodiment, the heel portion of the sole is effectively hingedand an actuating device is spaced from the hinge axis, whereby thewearer can adjust an actuator connected to a drive member that increasesor decreases the angle of the hinge. The hinge axis can be perpendicularto the centerline, either in the front of the heel with the drive memberembedded in the back of the heel, or in the back of the heel, with thedrive member is embedded in the front of the heel.

This angulation has two significant consequences that affect slidingfriction. First, the angulation affects the location on the heel, of thefirst contact of the heel on the floor following the initial sliding ofthe foot on the foresole. Secondly the hinging affects the total area ofthe heel that contacts the floor as the bowler shifts more weight intothe heel in order to stop, or brake, the slide. Both of these effectscan be adjusted without the replacement of any portion of the heel, andwithout manipulating any exposed region of the heel relative to anotherexposed region.

Adjustment of the sliding friction characteristics of the foresole isalso of significance in bowling shoes. The invention is not limited toadjustment of the heel by a hinging action about an axis perpendicularto the shoe centerline. The foresole can likewise be angulated to adjustthe sliding friction characteristics.

More generally, angulation can be effected in the foresole or in theheel, about an axis perpendicular to the shoe centerline, or about anaxis that is on or parallel to but offset from the centerline. In thismanner, one side of the heel, or one side of the foresole, can be raisedor lowered relative to the other side. This kind of lateral adjustmentcan affect the time dependent friction force resulting from a particularbowler's unique weight transfer in the foot bed during the course ofcompleting the delivery of the bowling ball. As with the heel angulatedabout an axis perpendicular to the centerline, the lateral adjustmentcan affect the location of the foresole or heel that first contacts thefloor, the total area of the foresole or heel in contact with the floorduring the delivery, and the weight distribution over the heel orforesole.

The adjustment device is partially embedded in one or both of the heelor foresole portions of the sole and is preferably accessible as thesole faces the user's hand or tool in the user's hand. Alternatively,especially in embodiments wherein the hinge is in the heel, theadjustment device can be accessed at an upstanding exterior surface ofthe heel, such as at the back rim. Actuation of the device can be by anymeans under the control of the end-user of the shoe.

The ability to adjust the angle of the heel or foresole, front to backand side to side, can also provide benefits in other performancecharacteristics that do not depend significantly on the user'ssensitivity to sliding friction, but do depend for comfort or safety, onadjustability of the weight-bearing regions. Unlike the presentinvention, known comfort adjustment techniques do not rely on a hingingof the weight bearing surface of the heel or foresole in a manner thatangulates the exposed weight bearing surface relative to the centerlineof the shoe.

In a more detailed characterization of the invention, a shoe having anadjustable weight bearing bottom surface comprises an upper supported bya sole extending generally along a longitudinal centerline, the solehaving an arch, a foresole defining a first weight bearing bottomsurface longitudinally forward of the arch, and a heel defining a secondweight bearing bottom surface longitudinally behind the arch. Each ofthe first and second weight bearing surfaces has front and back regionsand lateral side regions. An adjustment device angulates one of thefirst or second weight bearing surfaces. Preferably, the adjustmentdevice has a drive member at least partially embedded in the sole and anactuator connected to the drive member such that adjustment of theactuator angulates one of the first or second weight bearing surfaces inrelation to the centerline. It should be understood that as used herein,“region” denotes the general location of a sub-area of the outside of aheel or sole, such that, e.g., a side region of the heel can extent intothe front or back of the heel.

The invention can be further characterized in a preferred embodimentwherein the sole includes an exterior outsole having the bottom weightbearing surfaces and a midsole between the upper and the outsole. Thedrive member spans the midsole and outsole. The actuator selectivelyexpands or contracts the drive member to push or pull the outsole awayfrom or toward the midsole at the location where the drive member isembedded.

The adjustment device can take a variety of forms. In one embodiment,one disc is embedded in a base portion of the sole, such as in themidsole, and another disc is embedded in a movable portion of the sole,with a threaded bore for receiving a worm screw or the like that has itsdrive end accessible at the exterior of the sole. With a screw drivingdevice such as an Allen wrench or the like, the user can readilydisplace the disc in the movable portion of the sole relative to thestationary disc in the base of the sole, thereby increasing ordecreasing the angulation about the hinge axis. This can be implementedfor continuous adjustment, or can be ratcheted for repeatable stepwiseadjustment.

In another form, the adjustment device can be a disc interposed betweenthe base portion of the sole and the movable portion of the sole,mounted for rotation with an arc of the disc accessible externally forrotation by the user. The disc has variable thickness, preferablymonotonically increasing from the minimum to the maximum, wherebyrotation of the disc acts a wedge which, depending on the thickness ofthe disc at the contact with the opposed sole surfaces, defines thehinge angle.

Other adjustment techniques include an adjustable plug, jack or the likethat can be pushed or extended through the footbed or mid sole, toangulate the heel or foresole. An air injection pump or other diaphragmor bladder-type member can likewise be used for this purpose. A stepjack with bar analogous to one type of common car jack, or a pulledlever type device, could also be adapted for this purpose.

In some embodiments, increasing the angle will produce a gap orseparation between the base portion and the angulated, weight-bearingportion of the sole. Preferably, measures should be taken to compensatefor this discontinuity and resulting decrease in direct weight bearingsurface between the base portion and the movable portion of the solemembers. This compensation can take the form of providing robust, widecomponents for the drive member, such as the discs mentioned above, andassuring that the discs are firmly mounted in the respective seats orother stabilizing foundation within the separable components.

Another advantage uniquely achievable with the present invention is theability to effectuate a reverse inclination on either the heel orforesole. Bowling, athletic, and other performance shoes, as well asstreet shoes, are universally manufactured with the main weight bearing,ground contacting surface of the heel in substantially the same plane asthe weight bearing, ground contacting surface of the foresole. In otherwords, the center of the foresole and center of the heel lie flat on aflat surface. As an example with an adjustable heel according to theinvention, the neutral adjustment position can correspond to theconventional coplanar relationship between the heel and the foresole,but with positive and negative adjustment options, whereby a back regionof the heel weight bearing surface can be raised above ground level, orthe front weight bearing region of the heel could be raised above groundlevel. Similarly, the back region of the heel could be lowered relativeto the foresole, or the front region of the heel could be lowered therelative to the foresole. This added capability may be attractive tosome bowlers who have unusual foot shapes, approaches, or brakingtendencies. When combined with the further option of the exposed surfaceof the adjustable heel comprising two or more different materials, evengreater customization of performance may be achieved.

It should thus be understood that important an aspect of the inventionis that the exposed surface of the sole, i.e., one or both of the heelor foresole, is angulated. There is no adjustment of the footbed orother shoe component that conforms to the wearer's foot. The purpose ofthe angle adjustment is to increase or decrease the surface area of thesole that contacts the ground or floor. The footbed remains in the samerelation to the shoe centerline, but the exposed surface of the adjustedsole portion changes its angular relation to the shoe centerline. Thisadjustment can affect the timing of when certain portions of the solecontact the ground, which of multiple materials contact the ground andin what sequence, and how the weight of the wearer is distributed onvarious portions of the foresole and heel.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Various embodiments of the invention will be described with reference tothe accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic longitudinal section view of a shoe incorporatingone embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2A is a schematic detail view of the heel where a representativeadjustment device is in a neutral position, FIG. 2B is similar to FIG.2A, but with the adjustment device in a different configuration,producing an angulation in the heel about a hinge axis at the front ofthe heel, and FIG. 2C is a view similar to FIG. 2B, but for analternative embodiment in which the hinge axis is at the back of theheel;

FIG. 3 is a schematic representation of another embodiment of anadjustment device for angulating the heel;

FIG. 4 is a schematic representation of yet another adjustment devicefor angulating the heel;

FIG. 5 is a schematic representation of an actuation device forangulating the heel about a different axis;

FIG. 6 is an elevation view of the medial heel portion of a left bowlingshoe incorporating an embodiment of the invention analogous to thatshown of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a bottom plan view of the heel shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a section view along line 8-8 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a section view along line 9-9 of FIG. 7;

FIGS. 10A, B, and C schematically illustrate one of many possibletechniques for including a ratchet feature with the adjustment device;

FIG. 11 is a schematic of another embodiment wherein two adjustmentdevices are situated in the back portion of the heel, on either side ofthe shoe centerline;

FIG. 12 is a schematic of another embodiment, wherein two adjustmentdevice are situated in the heel, on the same lateral side of the shoecenterline; and

FIG. 13 is a section view of one embodiment for implementing theinvention in the foresole of a shoe, with the adjustment device situatedlaterally of the shoe centerline.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIGS. 1 and 2 show a schematic representation of one embodiment of theinvention as implemented in a left bowling shoe. The representativebowling shoe 10, has an upper 12 supported by a sole 14 having aforesole with associated flat slide surface 16 and heel 20 defining anominally flat brake surface 18. The sole can have one or more layers.An angulation adjustment device 22 is situated in the heel 20 forchanging the angle between the surface 18 and the surface 16, therebychanging the area of the heel surface 18 in contact with the, e.g.,bowling lane approach, when the foresole is sliding flat on the approachand the bowler transfers weight into the heel to control braking. Forpurposes of the present description the term “sole” refers to the entirebottom structure of the shoe, which for exemplary purposes, canconveniently comprise a foresole associated with surface 16, a heelassociated with surface 18, and an arch (often but not necessarilyrecessed) situated therebetween.

FIG. 2 shows a representative construction of the heel portion of a shoeincorporating embodiments of the present invention. The soleconstruction can include insole 26 and outsole 28 as shown in FIG. 2A.Similarly, the heel 20 includes a base portion 30 attached to midsole 26or extension of outsole component 28, and an active portion 32. Theadjustment mechanism or device 22 is partially embedded in the heel,leaving an exposed actuation surface or component 24, and spans the baseportion 30 and active portion 32. In this context, “spans” means thedevice remains in contact with the spanned components. In shoes having arecessed arch, the base portion 30 and active portion 32 of the heel areanalogous to the midsole 26 and outsole 28 of the foresole, in thatthese are the two layers closest to the ground when the shoe is worn.

The effect of manipulating the adjustment mechanism 22 from a nominalcondition in FIG. 2A, whereby active heel portion 32 fully abuts thebase portion 30, is shown in an exaggerated condition in FIG. 2B, wherethe active portion 32 pivots about a hinge axis 33 at the front edge orrim of the heel, and has in part separated from the base portion 30 atthe back edge or rim. The mechanism 22 has a first disc 34 embedded inthe base 30, and a second disc 36 embedded in the active portion 32,with a worm screw 38 fixed at one end 40 to disc 34 and engaging athreaded bore in disc 36. The other end 24 has a slot or socket forrotating the screw.

Upon rotation of the screw, the disc 36 is displaced relative to disc34, thereby separating active portion 32 from base portion 30, creatinga gap 44. This also creates an angle 46 relative to the horizontal (suchas a flat floor) 42.

The material at or along hinge or pivot 33 can be glued or sewnrelatively tightly, and the interface between the periphery of the base30 and active portion 32 can be sewn loosely (not shown), especiallyadjacent the location of gap 44, to assure that the hinging occurs atthe desired hinge axis and that the base and active portions areseparable but to a limited extent at gap 44. Also, a region (preferablyabout 50%) of different material than the remainder of the activeportion 32 of the heel can be provided to produce a coefficient offriction at exposed surface 18′ on one side of the actuation device 22that is different from the coefficient of friction on the remainder ofthe surface 18″.

FIG. 2C shows an alternative in which the hinge axis 33′ is at the backedge of the heel and the gap 44′ opens at the front edge of the heel,whereby the angle 46′ is created between heel surface 18 and the ground42.

FIG. 3 is a schematic of another embodiment in which wedge disc 48 isshown between heel portions 30 and 32. The disc 48 is situated in thespace between (i.e., spans) the base 30 and active portion 32 with thecenter of the disc having an opening through which shaft 56 passes. Theshaft has one end fixed to support member 52, which is in turn fixedwithin base 30, and another end fixed to support 54, which is fixedwithin active member 32. The disc has a varying thickness such that,upon rotation by the user, the selected thickness of the disc willbridge the base and active portion 30, 32 thereby define the gap andthus the angle that is established between members 30 and 32. An arcsegment of the disc projects from the exterior surface of the heel,preferably at the back, thereby serving as a thumb wheel, which directlyangulates the heel. The disc 48 functions as both the actuator and thedrive member of the adjustment device.

FIG. 4 depicts another embodiment wherein the adjustment mechanism 58comprises a thumb wheel 60 that is exposed at the rear of the baseportion 30, for the user to rotate screw 64 which in turn advances orretracts a disc or the like 62 embedded in portion 32, along withportion 32.

The same concept can be utilized to change the angle of the activeportion 32 relative to horizontal 42, laterally as suggested by arrow 74in FIG. 5. FIG. 5 is a view from the back of the shoe, in the directionof arrow V as shown in FIG. 1. In this embodiment, the adjustment deviceis situated adjacent either the medial or lateral exterior surface ofthe heel, thereby permitting the adjustment of the pronation angle ofthe heel. Any of the adjustment devices previously described may beutilized for this embodiment. A device 66 analogous that shown in FIG. 2is shown in FIG. 5. A first disc 68 is embedded in the base portion 30and a second disc 70 is embedded in active portion 32, with anadjustment screw 72 extending between the discs and exposed to a bottomsurface of the heel for access by the user. The active and base portions32, 30 can be separated or brought closer together, with an effectivepivot or hinging axis at 76, running parallel to but offset below theshoe centerline. This raises or lowers one side of the exposed surfaceof the heel, relative to ground the 42, as shown at 74.

It should thus be understood that the front-to-back angulationrepresented by α in FIG. 1 and the side-to-side angulation representedby arrow 74 in FIG. 5 can each be considered as changing therelationship of a weight bearing surface to the longitudinal centerlineof the shoe or sole

FIGS. 6 through 9 show additional details for implementing a variationof the embodiment shown generally in FIGS. 1 and 2. In this embodiment,the adjustment device is situated in the forward region of the heel,with the hinge axis situated toward the back of the heel, in contrast tothe embodiment shown in FIG. 1, where the adjustment device is centeredor toward the back of the heel, and the hinge axis is relatively forwardin the heel.

FIG. 6 is an elevation view of a bowling shoe 100, rearward of the arch.In this view the adjustable, active portion of the heel is shown at 112,adapted for contacting the ground. The base portion 114 of the heelrests on the active portion 112, and a riser portion 116 of the shoeupper is connected to the base portion 114. In this context, baseportion 114 can be considered a midsole component in relation to theactive portion 112, which can be considered the outsole component.

FIG. 7 shows the same portion 100 of the shoe depicted in FIG. 6. Theadjustment device 118 is situated in the front or forward portion of theheel, substantially vertically beneath the shoe centerline CL. Only theadjustment screw 120 is visible and accessible from the bottom of theheel. The adjustment screw 120 can carry a structural or applied markerfor selective alignment with visible discreet indicia 122 carried on thesurrounding surface of the heel. In this manner, the user can reproducea particular angular adjustment by realigning the marker with aparticular one of the indicia. Preferably, the adjustment deviceincludes a ratchet or similar discrete action, corresponding to thediscreet indicia.

In this embodiment, the adjustable portion 112 and the base portion 114of the heel converge 124 at the rearward portion of the arch, where agap is formed which increases or decrease in size according to theposition of the adjustment device. At the back of the heel, a fulcrum orpivot line is effectively formed by the overlap of the base 114 relativeto the active portion 112, as shown at 126, 128. The overlap 126 servesas a curtain, camouflaging the pivoting and therefore avoiding anydetrimental aesthetic appearance in the shoe. Alternatively, anaccordion type covering can be provided.

FIG. 8 is a section view through line 8-8 of FIG. 7 and FIG. 9 is asection view through line 9-9 of FIG. 7. The base 114 serves as the midsole and the adjustable portion 112 serves as the outsole. In thisparticular embodiment, the risers 116 forming part of the upper areconnected to the base 114, such that the inner surface of the riser andthe upper surface of the base portion merge to form foot bed 130′, 130″.The side portion of the base 114 can also provide an overlap or curtain132 relative to the sidewall 134 of the active member 112. The exposedbottom surface of the active member 112 can have recesses or otherpatterns 136 (not shown in FIG. 7) in a well-known manner, for bothaesthetic and functional purposes, but the overall boundary of thebottom surface is substantially flat. Within the active portion 112, oneor more cavities 138 can be formed for weight savings and comfort.

In the illustrated embodiment, a substantially circular rim 140 providesa support wall and is upstanding to the extent of close or contactrelation with the underside of the base portion 114. A cavity 142 isestablished within the support wall 140, for containing the maincomponents of the actuating device. In this embodiment, the active disc144 rests on transverse support surface 146 at the bottom of the supportwall 140. This can be cemented in place, or rotationally restrained bylugs or the like (not shown) engaging the support wall 140. Another disc148 is seated for rotation at 150 at the underside of the base member114. An Allen screw or the like 120 spans these discs and is fixed withrespect to disc 148, but cooperates with the active disc 144 as in aworm gear. In this manner, rotation of the screw forces the active disc144 to move away from or toward the stationary disc 148. As the activedisc 144 separates and moves away from the fixed disc 148, it acts onthe support surface 146 to cause separation of the active portion 112 ofthe heel from the base portion 114 of the heel along interface 152. As aresult, much of the weight of the bowler after release of the ball andinto the follow-through shifts to the heel and is ultimately transmittedfrom the fixed disc 148, through screw 120, to the active disc 144.Accordingly, the screw threads and the mating threads in the active disc144 will be sufficiently robust to accommodate this weight. Furthermore,inasmuch as the heel 112 has separated from the base 114 the weight willnot be transmitted to the active portion 112 at the sidewalls throughthe interface 152. The active disc 144 should be of sufficient width ordiameter, or include other stabilizer structure (not shown) to enablethe user to maintain proper balance during desired or inadvertentlateral weight shift within the foot bed 130.

As described above, during adjustment, the active portion 112 willseparate to some extent form the base portion 114, as a result of thedisplacement of the active disc 144 relative to the fixed disc 148.While the wearer applies weight on the foot bed 130, these members 112,114 are urged toward each other. However, during a bowler's stride or atother times when the shoe is above the ground without support frombelow, the active portion 112 would have a tendency to separate from thebase portion 114. This is prevented by the gluing and/or stitchingdescribed above with reference to FIG. 2. Alternatively, or in addition,other embodiments of the adjustment device itself can include structurethat is fixed with respect to the base 114, such as described below withrespect to FIG. 10.

FIGS. 10A, B and C show one embodiment for including a ratchet mechanismor similar step-wise, incremental setting of the degree of adjustment.This is especially helpful in conjunction with the indicia previouslydescribed, for precisely returning the adjustment to a known settingthat is to be reproduced. The active portion of the heel 112′ includesstationary but rotatable disc 140 with rigidly projecting adjustmentscrew 142. A ratchet type mechanism 144 is also located in base portion114′, spring loaded toward to circumference of the disc 140, which has asaw toothed or similar rim 140′. The members 146, 148 are threaded toscrew 142 and, as the screw is rotated, the members are displaced alongthe screw, thereby moving active heel portion 112′ either toward or awayfrom base portion 114′. The ratchet-type or similar detent mechanismretains the screw in a selected rotational position upon completion ofthe adjustment. Such movement is preferably accompanied by a sequentialclicking sound generated between the ratchet 144 and rim 140′.

In a preferred implementation in which a single adjustment device is onthe shoe centerline at the back of the heel, the movable disc has adiameter of at least about 50 mm for providing sufficient stability. Theratchet has at least seven stop positions, with eight being ideal, e.g.,+4 to 0 (neutral whereby the heel and foresole are substantiallycoplanar) to −4. Each turn of the screw through 180 degrees, advancesthe moveable disc and active portion of the heel, about 0.5 mm.

FIG. 11 shows another embodiment 200, in which two actuation devices202, 204 are situated in the rearward region of the heel, therebyhinging the heel about an axis 206 in the forward portion of the heel,transverse to the centerline.

FIG. 12 discloses another embodiment 300 wherein two actuation devices302, 304 are both situated on one lateral region of the centerline ofthe heel in a manner that effectuates a lateral adjustment about a hingeaxis at 306 that is parallel to but offset from the shoe centerline.

FIG. 13 shows another embodiment 400, implemented in the foresole alongone lateral side of the shoe centerline 402 whereby a lateral adjustmentcan be made by actuating the adjustment device 404 to angulate theoutsole 406 relative to the midsole 408 about a hinge axis 410 that isparallel to but laterally offset from the shoe centerline.

FIG. 13 also shows schematically within the phantom lines 412, thatother types of adjustment devices can be located for access through thefootbed 414, to angulate not only the foresole, but alternatively theheel, either front to back or laterally.

From the foregoing detailed examples, one of ordinary skill in thisfield can also implement a hinge adjustment in the foresole about anaxis transverse to the centerline, thereby lifting or lowering theforward or back portion of the foresole, in a manner analogous to thatdescribed with respect to the heel.

It should be appreciated that the foregoing embodiments can beimplemented with only one adjustment device, but two devices enhancestability and offer greater precision, especially for the lateraladjustment. Two or more can be used in combination, for fore/aft andlateral angulation. The invention can be used in other types ofperformance shoes, including but not limited to shoes used in courtgames, such as basketball or tennis, and walking shoes, driving shoes,etc.

1. A shoe having an adjustable weight bearing bottom surface,comprising: an upper supported by a sole extending generally along alongitudinal centerline, said sole having an arch, a foresole defining afirst weight bearing bottom surface longitudinally forward of the arch,and a heel defining a second weight bearing bottom surfacelongitudinally behind the arch, each of said first and second weightbearing surfaces having front and back regions and lateral side regions;and an adjustment device at least partially embedded in the sole forselectively angulating one of said first or second weight bearing bottomsurfaces in relation to said centerline.
 2. The shoe of claim 1, whereinthe adjustment device includes a thumbwheel.
 3. The shoe of claim 1,wherein said sole includes an exterior outsole having said bottom weightbearing surfaces and a midsole between the upper and the outsole; saidadjustment device spans said mid sole and outsole; and said adjustmentdevice selectively expands or contracts to push or pull the outsole awayfrom or toward the midsole.
 4. The shoe of claim 3, wherein said firstor second weight bearing surface angulates about an axis on one side ofthe adjustment device, thereby forming a gap between the sole andmidsole on the other side of the adjustment device; and a curtain isprovided over said gap between the sole and the midsole.
 5. The shoe ofclaim 1, wherein said sole includes an exterior outsole having saidbottom weight bearing surfaces and a midsole between the upper and theoutsole; the outsole and midsole are partially affixed to each other,leaving a gap therebetween and establishing a hinge axis; and saidadjustment device comprises a disc of varying thickness that spans saidgap and is rotatable to selectively angulate the outsole relative to themid sole.
 6. The shoe of claim 1, wherein the adjustment device is inthe heel; the weight bearing surface of the heel is in one position,substantially flat and coplanar with the weight bearing surface of theforesole; the heel angulates to other positions about an axis that isperpendicular to the shoe centerline; and the adjustment device has anadjustment ranging in both positive and negative angles for the otherpositions, relative to said plane.
 7. The shoe of claim 1, wherein saidadjustment device has a drive member at least partially embedded in thesole and an actuator connected to the drive member such that adjustmentof said actuator angulates one of said first or second weight bearingsurfaces in relation to said centerline.
 8. The shoe of claim 1 whereinsaid adjustment device has a drive member at least partially embedded inthe sole and an actuator connected to the drive member and accessiblewhen the shoe is held in one hand, such that manual adjustment of saidactuator angulates one of said first or second weight bearing surfacesin relation to said centerline.
 9. The shoe of claim 8, wherein theangulation is about an axis that is perpendicular to the centerline. 10.The shoe of claim 9, wherein the angulation axis is in the front of theheel and the drive member is embedded in the back of the heel, such thatsaid adjustment raises or lowers the back of the heel relative to thefront of the heel.
 11. The shoe of claim 9, wherein the angulation axisis in the back of the heel and the drive member is embedded in the frontof the heel, such that said adjustment raises of lowers the front of theheel relative to the back of the heel.
 12. The shoe of claim 8, whereinthe angulation is in a direction around the centerline.
 13. The shoe ofclaim 12, wherein the drive member is embedded in the heel laterally ofthe centerline such that said adjustment raises or lowers one side ofthe heel relative to the other side of the heel.
 14. The shoe of claim12, wherein the drive member is embedded in the foresole laterally ofthe centerline such that said adjustment raises or lowers one side ofthe foresole relative to the other side of the foresole.
 15. The shoe ofclaim 8, wherein said sole includes an exterior outsole having saidbottom weight bearing surfaces and a midsole between the upper and theoutsole; said drive member spans said mid sole and outsole; and saidactuator selectively expands or contracts said drive member to push orpull the outsole away from or toward the midsole at the location wherethe drive member is imbedded.
 16. The shoe of claim 8, wherein theactuator is a worm screw.
 17. The shoe of claim 16, wherein the sole hasan active portion defining said weight bearing surface and a baseportion between the active portion and the footbed; the worm screw hasone end accessible at the weight bearing surface for receiving anadjustment tool and another end connected to a stationary disc bearingon the base portion; and a movable member is supported in the activeportion and threaded to the screw between the ends; whereby rotation ofthe screw displaces the movable member along the screw, therebydisplacing the active member commensurately.
 18. The shoe of claim 16,wherein a ratchet is operatively associated with the screw, forretaining the screw in a selected rotational position upon completion ofthe adjustment.
 19. The shoe of claim 16, wherein indicia are associatedwith the driven end of the worm screw and uniquely correlated to therotational position of the screw.
 20. The shoe of claim 8, whereinindicia are associated with the actuator and uniquely correlated to theposition of the drive member.
 21. The shoe of claim 1, wherein at leastone of the first and second weight bearing surfaces, for contacting theground or a floor, comprises a plurality of materials that are presentin predefined surface areas; and the adjustment of the angulationchanges the proportion of each material that contacts the ground orfloor.
 22. The shoe of claim 21, wherein the shoe is a bowling shoe. 23.The shoe of claim 1, wherein the shoe is a bowling shoe.
 24. The shoe ofclaim 1, wherein the shoe is a driving shoe.
 25. The shoe of claim 1,wherein the shoe is a court game shoe.
 26. In a bowling shoe having asubstantially flat foresole and a substantially flat heel insubstantially coplanar relation to the foresole for contacting a floor,the improvement comprising an adjustment device in the heel for anglingthe heel out of said substantially coplanar relation with the foresole.27. The bowling shoe of claim 26, wherein the heel has front and backregions, and the angling hinges the front or back region of the heelrelative to the back or front region of the heel, respectively.
 28. Thebowling shoe of claim 27, wherein the adjustment device has a neutralposition in which the heel and foresole are substantially coplanar, anda range of adjustment about the neutral position including raising thefront region relative to the back region and lowering the front regionrelative to the back region.
 29. The bowling shoe of claim 27, whereinone region has a surface having a first coefficient of friction and theother region has a surface having a different coefficient of friction.30. The bowling shoe of claim 26, wherein the heel has left and rightside regions, and the angling hinges the left or right region of theheel relative to the right or left region of the heel, respectively. 31.The bowling shoe of claim 26, wherein the heel has a heel base in fixedrelation to the footbed of the shoe and the underside overlying amovable heel outsole that contacts the floor in use; the heel outsolehas an internal cavity defined by an upstanding support wall extendingfrom a transverse support surface up to close or contact relation withthe underside of the heel base; an active disc is fixed to thetransverse support; a passive disc is seated in fixed position forrotation at the underside of the heel base; a worm screw spans thediscs, fixed to the passive disc and threaded through the active disc;an actuating end of the worm screw penetrates the transverse supportsurface for accessibility externally of the heel outsole; wherebyexternal rotation of the screw forces the active disc to move away fromor toward the passive disc such that as the active disc and moves towardor away from the passive disc the heel outsole is displaced relative tothe heel base to angle the heel outsole out of coplanar relation withthe shoe foresole.